Battle for the Stars

by Edmond Hamilton

"A most impressive example of understatement--in science fiction ... keeps the major components of the story within the bounds of the human. Quite an accomplishment in view of the cosmic nature of the plot!" that's how Galaxy Magazine describes the dazzling cosmic science fiction of pulp master Edmond Hamilton. A husband and wife find themselves at odds with each other when they become the center of a whirlpool of galactic intrigue in this top-of-form and very adroit novel containing Hamilton's classic blend of pulp space opera and adult romance. For two hundred years Earth's power and prestige as the center of galactic government has been increasingly eclipsed by that of her growing colonies in far distant star clusters. Now the weakened mother world, celebrating the anniversary of the first space flight, has become a helpless pawn in a struggle between the scheming Orion cluster and the other clusters it hopes to conquer. Enter Jay Birrel, captain of a squadron of space ships in from the cluster Lyra for the celebration, and his brilliant wife Lyllin, whose exotic looks betray her birth on distant Vega. Jay is of Terrestrial descent, and a visit to the ancient family homestead earns him friends and stirs a sense of belonging to the mother world he never knew he possessed. Jay might even want to live here. But the neighbors aren't as quick to cotton to the alien looking Lyllin, and the pair soon find themselves at odds over their feelings about the old homestead and the old home planet. Then Orion strikes, and before he can work things out with Lyllin, Jay finds himself called to duty, with only hours to prepare for an epic battle between his own cluster and the aggressor--with theindependence of Terra as the prize. Here is a masterful space epic with a human heart and sensibility such as only Jules Verne Prize winner Edmond Hamilton could write. "Roistering adventure. Beautiful heroines. Color and imagery. A final world-smashing slug-fest. Good fun!"--Analog/Astounding

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military Science Fiction

206 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Edmond Moore Hamilton was a popular author of science fiction stories and novels throughout the mid-twentieth century. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised there and in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania. Something of a child prodigy, he graduated high school and started college (Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania) at the age of 14--but washed out at 17. He was the Golden Age writer who worked on Batman, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and many sci-fi books.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books. I have read it several times over the years and I re-read it every few years. It is by Edmond Hamilton who is probably best known for his series of Captain Future books. I like the Captain Future books even though they are very dated and somewhat campy by today's standards. This book however is not as dated as one might think even though it was written in 1961. It is not at all campy. It is a great example of Space Opera/Military Science Fiction. It is a short novel by today's standards and I read it in a day, partially because I enjoy it so much. I highly recommend it to all fans of Edmond Hamilton and of Space Opera/Military Science Fiction and of Golden Age Science Fiction.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edmond Hamilton, best remembered for his Captain Future novels, was affectionately nicknamed World-Wrecker and (along with "Doc" Smith) is the creator of the space-opera genre. Battle for the Stars appeared several years after the last of the pulp magazines disappeared and is intended for an older, more mature audience. The science in this one is still a little questionable, but there's a much more sophisticated level of characterization, convincing dialog, and subtle plot points along with the space battles. It seems like a nice transition title between Flash Gordon and more modern adventures.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent space opera.

[Robert Giesenhagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first science fiction books I remember reading. Probably should reread it as I don’t remember much.

[Chuck Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was a teenager, this was one of my favorite books from my father's sci-fi library- though, to be fair, I rarely made it to the end after all of the space combat (written before lasers & phasers & torpedoes & missiles became the staples of interstellar offensive activity). Last year I actually read it for the first time in 20 years from cover to cover. I was able to relate better to the protagonist, and for the first time I could remember, I actually finished the book- and wished Hamilton had written more about the STARSONG, her commodore and a Lyran's return to the Earth of his ancestors.

A enjoyable read from an era before we'd landed on the Moon or put men up in space for more than a week.

[Jim Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Space opera with a military and political slant. Doesn't hold up well with time and I probably would have only given it 3 stars if I had read it as a teenager in the mid 60's. The space battles are based on age old naval ideas and the overly majestic descriptions of the cosmos have little to do with reality. The characters are wooden and the ending relies too much in an unrealistic nostalgia for good ol' Earth. Tom the cat didn't add much either. I enjoyed Hamilton's "City at World's End", written 11 years earlier, much better.

[John JJJJJJJJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the distant future, Earthlings have colonized space and created various competing states. Jay and his wife are sent on a secret mission to New York, the city of his ancestors, because Lyre suspects Orion is up to something. Indeed, Orion decides to attack Earth and take it over. Will Jay succeed in stopping the Orionids?

Once again, this is excellent Hamilton.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic sci fi.

I once had these in paperback. The electronic versions occasionally switch a b for an h. The story of Galactic groups fighting over a diminished Earth. The characters are quite realistic, the technology seems odd.

[John Fraley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Science Fiction book!

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read (despite 60s gender roles)

[Forked Radish · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original Kirk, and he wasn’t a total “Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Sculpture”... More pulpy action detective than pulpy sci-fi. Beware the Google “Mike” voice TTS, it’s awesomely awful.

[Paul Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earth nostalgia wins the day. I guess there's truly no place like your home-world, after all. Nice character development.

[Mark Rabideau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another magnificent early sci-fi novel by Edmond Hamilton. It's all about Earth being 'passed by'.

[Henry Luecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book quite fantastical but fun to read, and as the author himself prefaces the unique sentiment of “writing the future as if it were the past” enjoyable and a bit comical in retrospect.

[Steve LaForest]

Unfortunately, I read this novel way back in 1966, and I don't have any record of a rating.

A big thank-you to Tor for resurrecting the old "doubles" concept from Ace.

[Shashank Mankotia · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

[Dylan Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful little short story by Edmond Hamilton! A little bit more political and military focused than most science fiction novels, but still a great story about the outer worlds and colonies returning to Earth for one last triumph. Like many novels from this era there is quite a bit of sexism present; and most of the characters are mainly men.

[Roddy Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Fate of the ‘Ancient Planet’ Earth depends on the skill and courage of a single spaceship commander as the constellations war across the galaxies – a vivid intensely dramatic novel of the future every science fiction fan will want to read.’

Blurb from the 1967 Paperback Library edition.

Hamilton produces an interesting idea which is never really fully developed here. Originally written in the 1950s this 1961 version is an expanded version.
Jay Birrell is the Commander of the Fifth Squadron of Lyra, one the five sectors of space which was once controlled by Earth under the banner of the United Worlds. Although Earth still considers itself to be in charge of the galaxy the five sectors have long been autonomous and are ruled by the Commanders of their military fleet.
Interestingly, Hamilton tells us that when man ventured into space he found many E-type planets already populated by humans, suggesting either some form of convergent evolution or some seeding programme by agencies unknown. This mystery is not further explored or even mentioned, which is a shame since it would have made an interesting side-plot.
Almost as soon as the novel opens, Birrell’s ship is lured into a Star Cluster by ships from the Orion sector and he is kidnapped and questioned about the Lyrans’ plans for Earth. Birrell, mystified by the questions, manages to escape but is subsequently asked by the Lyran commander, Ferdias, to take his squadron to Earth to attend a commemorative ceremony.
It appears that Earth has become important as a figurehead and that the Orionids are planning to claim Earth and – inevitably – attempt to control the galaxy.
Once the Lyrans have arrived on Earth it transpires that the Orionids are indeed planning to invade, and Birrell has to convince a reluctant United Worlds government to let him deal with them. Hamilton makes some points about government bureaucracy obstructing the military in what they have to do to get the job done, but that problem is soon dealt with.
What follows is a standard action plot which culminates in a space-battle in which the forces of Lyra – aided by the remaining fleet of the United Worlds based on Earth – fight off the nasty Orionids. There is a twist in the tale however, as Ferdias himself has plans to control Earth – something which Birrell was warned of by Tauncer, the evil Orionid.
For something published in 1961 it reads as remarkably dated. Hamilton is a competent writer but fails to expand his original tale into something which would have seemed contemporary at the time.
There are some interesting features. The sections dealing with events in space work very well, taking into account the dangers of radiation, and proving the FTL ships with radar screens which translate FTL images into meaningful visuals. The rest of the science is, however, decidedly non-Einsteinian, and there appear to be no relativistic effects to the ships whatsoever.
Earth however is a disappointment and doesn’t seem a great deal different to the world we knew in the Sixties. The galactic society is disappointingly Americocentric and it stands to reason that of course the Headquarters of the United Worlds would be in North America.

[Sean Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1961, this is the literary equivalent of a 1950,s B movie with a little Harry Palmer thrown in. Two opposing human star sectors Lyra(America) and Orion(U.S.S.R.) intrigue and fight over Earth. Nothing original, a bit dated but still worth a read for curiosity value alone.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good old fashioned space opera - dated now but not a bad read even today

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

In addition to battling an invasion from Orion, a spaceship captain must reconcile his Vegan wife to residing upon Earth. A Science Fiction Book Club selection.

[Marko]

I have the german edition: Die Heimat der Astronauten